Tetra Safestart with fishless cycle

[Kerbins]

Hopefully I'm not asking a question asked many times before... just couldn't find any answers searching forums or even google really.

Currently in the first week of my fishless cycle on my 220 gallon. Curious to if adding Tetra Safestart would be ok with pure ammonia or not.

I would just assume not use gravel from my other tanks, just on the chance that something is there I don't want. Everyone in my tanks is healthy and happy...just rather play it safe.

 

[iloveoscars702]

Hopefully I'm not asking a question asked many times before... just couldn't find any answers searching forums or even google really.

Currently in the first week of my fishless cycle on my 220 gallon. Curious to if adding Tetra Safestart would be ok with pure ammonia or not.

I would just assume not use gravel from my other tanks, just on the chance that something is there I don't want. Everyone in my tanks is healthy and happy...just rather play it safe.

do you have an established tank? before i started cycling my 100 i ran a new Eheim pro II on my 55 for about a week or two to establish BB colonies, then i switched it to the new 100. cycling was a lot faster that way. so if you can transfer an est. filter the cycling tank.

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

I live by the exact method you are speaking about. Its works fantastically.

• I first figure out how much ammonia to add to raise the PPM up to 4ppm ammonia. Then I add that.
• Then I add the safe start a few hours later. Using enough to treat the hole tank volume.
• Wait 24hrs and then check my parameters for ammonia and nitrite.
• I then add the 4ppm ammonia everyday until the cycle complete's. Or I have a chance to get my fish.
• Before adding my fish I do a 80-90% water change and replenish with matching temp water and add my conditioner during the fill. Then go get the fish.

I have done this 4 times now and the cycle complete's 100% in less than 1 week, usually the first 24hr period all the ammonia is converted to nitrite. Which means step one of the cycle is 100% completed by the safe start. Then it takes a couple of days for the nitrite consuming bacteria to raise its population enough to handle a 4ppm bioload. I call a cycle complete when the 4ppm ammonia is converted to nitrite and then nitrate in less than 24hrs.

4ppm is on point with what most consider a full stocking of fish.

 

[Kerbins]

I moved over one tray of the Fluval Bio rings into my 405 running on the 220. Still around 4.0 ppm hoping to be able to pick up some Safestart this weekend when I head to Minneapolis (no stores carry it near me and to heck with ordering it online)

My stocking isn't going to be anything near full.. considering the largest clown is 5-6" and my datnoids aren't even more than a few months.